DRIVERS will now be charged for driving down two roads, as part of a traffic calming measure.

To support the Cowley Low Traffic Neighbourhood scheme (LTN) new automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed.

The new cameras have been installed on Cornwallis Road and Bartholomew Road to catch those who try to drive through the Cowley LTN and the bus gates.

The cameras will operate 24 hours a day from Thursday (January 2022).
Oxfordshire County Council has said it hopes this ‘will help provide safer pedestrian and cycle access’ on these two roads.

Anyone who breaches access to the LTN and is caught on the cameras will have to pay a £60 fine.

There are exemptions as to who can be fined, however.

Emergency service providers, pedestrians, cyclists, foot scooters, Voi e-scooters, taxis, and buses will all be exempt from the camera enforcement.

In 2020, the council received a £3 million ‘Active Travel’ grant from the

Department of Transport in order to install LTNs, and create better cycle routes.

The new ANPR cameras have been supported by this grant.

The decision as to whether the trial Cowley LTN (which has seen traffic filters installed in Temple Cowley, Church Cowley, and Florence Park) will be made permanent in a Cabinet member decision meeting on February 24.

The council added that it will continue to monitor the impact of the LTN scheme, including data collected on traffic and air pollution levels, as well as the number of walkers and cyclists in the area.

Last month, the council decided to approve plans to install another LTN in East Oxford, despite considerable backlash from key stakeholders, including Oxford City Council and the city’s major taxi company.

This means traffic filters will be placed on the side streets off St Clements, Cowley Road, and Iffley Road, to prevent ‘rat-running’ between these arterial roads.

Speaking about the new ANPR cameras, Councillor Tim Bearder, who is the cabinet member of highways management, said: “Cornwallis Road and Bartholomew Road are busy routes for a number of primary and secondary schools in the area.

"I'm delighted that these cameras will help make these streets safer, quieter, and more pleasant places to live.

“The ANPR cameras will prevent through traffic on residential streets and make them safer for people of all age groups and abilities to walk and cycle.”